3 Signs Your Transmission Is On Its Way Out

Your vehicle depends on an assortment of different components to make it run properly. When one of those components starts to go out on you, it can cause a chain reaction of problems. One of the main components of any vehicle is the transmission. The transmission helps your vehicle shift from one gear to the next in an attempt to pick up speed. To help make sure your transmission is in working order at all times, be on the lookout for some of the warning signs that something isn't right.

The fluid smells burnt.

Transmission fluid should have a sweet smell to it. When your fluid smells severely burnt, that often means that something isn't right with your transmission. The fluid often gets that burnt smell because the gears aren't being properly lubricated. This causes them to rub together and create friction, thus creating the burnt smell in the component. Your transmission requires lubrication internally to keep the parts moving like they should. Without that, it will end up failing and needing to be replaced.

The transmission isn't shifting gears.

Your transmission should shift through the gears with ease. If you find that you are stuck at 45 miles per hour and your engine is running at 2,000 rpms, you need to have your vehicle looked at. Otherwise, you are going to end up burning something up and having even worse problems with your vehicle. Each time the vehicle shifts through to a different gear, the engine will idle down. When it cannot shift to another gear because of a transmission problem, it can cause the engine to burn out from all the constant revving.

Your vehicle is leaking fluid everywhere.

If you noticed a pile of red fluid underneath of your vehicle, you might want to have it looked at right away. This is often a sign that something is wrong with the transmission and causing it to leak fluid everywhere. It might be something like a bad seal or it could be that one of the gears is completely shot and corroded. Either way, you need to have it looked at to determine the extent of the damage and get it repaired back to working order.

If you notice any of the things above going on with your vehicle, you likely need to get a transmission service or even have your vehicle fully inspected to determine what needs to be done and how severe the damage is.

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About Me

Hello, I'm Heidi Trullid. I am interested in seals and gaskets used in the automotive industry. Seals and gaskets are found throughout each vehicle build to keep liquids in or out, depending on the part. For example, engines and transmissions used seals and gaskets to keep lubricants from escaping the case and leaving the internal components bone dry. Heating vents, doors and windows also use seals to keep moisture outside of the vehicle. When any of these seals or gaskets go bad, the vehicle will not work as expected. You can actually check the integrity of these components and perform preventive repairs to keep your vehicle in good shape. I will discuss the locations to check, and what signs of damage to look for, during your seal and gasket inspection. Come back soon to learn more.